National Day of Service and Remembrance events at UMW

The University of Montana Western Camps Corps is hosting a series of events on Sept. 13, 14, 15 and 17 to commemorate the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

President Obama proclaimed Sept. 11 as the National Day of Service and Remembrance on Sept. 10, 2009 to honor victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

Cheyanne Marcy, Campus Corps team leader, said she is confident this year’s events will make a difference.

“I am excited for the community to get involved so they see that their efforts make a difference,” Marcy said. “I also think we are going to make an impact on plastic recycling and raise awareness about the importance of recycling.”

There will be a UMW Campus Community Garden harvest party on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. The garden is located on the east end of campus off of Cornell Street. Harvest donations will be delivered to the Dillon Food Pantry on Sept. 14. Volunteers are needed and can sign up by calling (406) 683-7202.

An interactive plastics recycling educational event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 15 on the Student Union Building lawn at 4 p.m. Speaker Leaf Magnuson of the Forest Service Green Team will present a discussion entitled “Why Recycle Plastic?”

“We hope to draw elementary school students,” Marcy said. “I chose plastic as the focus of this year’s recycling education and drive because it has the highest need for recycling in the community.”

The Forest Service Green Team’s website states one person in Beaverhead County generates approximately 4.34 pounds of garbage per day on average. This adds up to 4.25 tons of waste in the landfill per year for the entire county. The Green Team also estimates 118 tons of plastic per year could be kept out of the landfill if it was recycled.

The Campus Corps team is also involved with the Beaverhead Recycling Committee. The two groups are working together to get ongoing plastic recycling in Beaverhead County and are open to suggestions or donations from the community. Key issues are containment bins for plastics #1 and #2, bin transportation and financing.

There will be a plastics-only (plastics # 1-7) curbside recycling pickup by Campus Corps from 9 a.m.to noon on Saturday, Sept. 17 within Dillon city limits. Residents and businesses are asked to rinse all items and to contact Marcy at (406) 683-7202 or campuscorps@umwestern.edu to schedule a pickup.